Growth and leaf gas exchange in Populus euphratica across soil water and salinity gradients

Soil water and salinity conditions of the riparian zones along the Tarim River, northwest China, have been undergoing alterations due to water use by human or climate change, which is expected to influence the riparian forest dominated by an old poplar, Populus euphratica. To evaluate the effects of such habitat alterations, we examined photosynthetic and growth performances of P. euphratica seedlings across experimental soil water and salinity gradients. Results indicated that seedlings were limited in their physiological performance, as evidenced by decreases in their height and biomass, and the maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (F_v/F_m), the effective quantum-use efficiency of PSII (F_v′/F_m′), and photochemical quenching (q_P) under mild (18% soil water content, SWC; 18.3 g kg^?1 soil salt content, SSC) and moderate (13% SWC, 22.5 g kg^?1 SSC) water or salinity stress. However, seedlings had higher root/shoot ratio (R/S), increased nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ), and water-use efficiency (WUE) relative to control under such conditions. Under severe (8% SWC, 27.9 g kg^?1 SSC) water or salinity stress, P. euphratica seedlings had only a fifth of biomass of those under control conditions. It was also associated with damaged PSII and decreases in WUE, the maximal net photosynthetic rate (P _Nmax), light-saturation point (LSP), and apparent quantum yield (_α). Our results suggested that the soil conditions, where P.euphratica seedlings could grow normally, were higher than ～ 13% for SWC, and lower than ～22.5 g kg^?1 for SSC, the values, within the seedlings could acclimate to water or salinity stress by adjusting their R/S ratio, improving WUE to limit water loss, and rising NPQ to dissipate excessive excitation energy. Once SWC was lower than 8% or SCC higher than ～28 g kg^?1, the seedlings suffered from the severe stress.     

Expression profiling and functional characterization of a CBL-interacting protein kinase gene from Populus euphratica

Key message

This is the first report on the function of a member of the CIPK family in Populus euphratica.

Abstract

The Ca²⁺-dependent salt overly sensitive (SOS) pathway has been shown to play an essential role in maintaining ion homeostasis and conferring salt tolerance. One component of the SOS pathway, SOS1, was identified in the salt-resistant tree P. euphratica. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized another component of the SOS pathway in this tree called PeSOS2 or PeCIPK26. On the basis of protein sequence similarity and complementation studies in Arabidopsis, PeCIPK26 was concluded to be the functional homolog of Arabidopsis AtSOS2. Yeast two-hybrid assays revealed that PeCIPK26 can interact with four calcineurin B-like (CBL) genes, i.e., PeCBL1, PeCBL4/PeSOS3, PeCBL9 and PeCBL10. Autophosphorylation assays showed that PeCIPK26 is an active protein kinase. Expression profile analysis demonstrated that PeCIPK26 is expressed in root, stem and leaf, and throughout the cell including cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus; in addition, it can be induced under salt-stress treatment. Functions of PeCIPK26 in salt tolerance were evaluated by gene overexpression in Arabidopsis cipk24 mutants. The better salt tolerance of transgenic plants relative to mutants was shown by their higher germination rate, lower Na⁺ accumulation and higher capacity to discharge Na⁺ when grown with NaCl. These results suggest the involvement of PeCIPK26 in the salt-stress response of P. euphratica.     

胡杨器官和体胚发生方式的植株再生

目的：为以胡杨为亲本的体细胞杂交育种奠定基础。方法：以胡杨苗叶片为外植体,通过器官和体胚两种不同发生方式建立了离体再生体系。结果：附加0．75mg/L BA、0．5mg/L NAA基本培养基及3w暗培养是愈伤组织诱导的最佳条件;附加0．25mg/L BA和0．1mg/L NAA的基本培养基上不定芽的诱导率最高;1／2大量元素的MS培养基附加0．1mg/l NAA、0．05mg／L和1．5％蔗糖对不定芽生根效果最好;诱导并筛选出的胚性愈伤组织在附加了0．5mg/L BA、0．5mg／L NAA的基本培养基上诱导获得大量胚状体,干化处理后大部分能经子叶胚期萌发成苗。结论：外植体的采集周期和培养条件影响胡杨离体叶片的形态发生途径。     

Expression profiles of microRNAs in oxidized low-density lipoprotein-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells

Macrophage-derived foam cells were one of the hallmarks of atherosclerosis, and microRNAs played an important role in the formation of foam cells. In order to explore the roles of miRNA in the formation of foam cells, we investigated miRNA expression profiles in foam cells through high-throughput sequencing technology. A total of 84 miRNAs were differentially expressed between RAW 264.7 macrophages and foam cells induced by ox-LDL. Thirty miRNAs were upregulated and 54 miRNAs were downregulated. GO terms and KEGG pathways analysis revealed that the target genes of most of DE miRNAs were mainly enriched in “cell differentiation,” “endocytosis,” “MAPK signaling pathway,” and “FoxO signaling pathway.” The target genes of some DE miRNAs were enriched in “Insulin signaling pathway,” “Hippo signaling pathway,” “TNF signaling pathway,” “NF-kappa B signaling pathway,” and “cell death.” Using bioinformatics analyses and dual-luciferase reporter assays, we found that miR-28a-5p and miR-30c-1-3p directly inhibited LRAD3 and LOX-1 mRNA expression through targeting the 3’UTR of LRAD3 and LOX-1 mRNA, respectively. Our study indicates that miRNAs are extensively involved in the formation of foam cells, and provides a valuable resource for further study the role of miRNAs in atherosclerosis.     

In situ detection of precursor and mature microRNAs in paraffin embedded, formalin fixed tissues and cell preparations

The in situ detection of microRNAs (miRs) expression offers several challenges. It would be advantageous to have a method which can be used in paraffin embedded, formalin fixed tissue to be able to access the large data bank of archival material. Further, it would be helpful if one could differentiate between precursor and mature, active forms of the miR. In this review, two different methods for the in situ detection of miR in paraffin embedded, formalin fixed tissues are described. Detection of the inactive precursor miR can be accomplished by RT in situ PCR. This will allow the detection of one copy of a given pre-miR per cell. Detection of the mature form of a given miR can be accomplished with in situ hybridization with a labeled probe in which some of the nucleotides have been modified; this is referred to as a locked nucleic acid (LNA) probe. An intense signal after in situ detection with the LNA probe documents marked up-regulation of the, typically, mature miR. Further, one can easily determine the specific subcellular compartmentalization of the precursor and mature forms which may provide insight into the modulation of these important regulatory molecules and their targets.     

盐胁迫下胡杨cDNA文库的构建及其nhx基因的克隆

采用CTAB法提取经600 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫处理后的胡杨总RNA,利用SMART技术构建载体为λTriplEx2的盐胁迫条件下胡杨的表达型cDNA文库（SSL）。文库的滴度为1.2×10⁶ pfu·ml^-1,重组率约为90.6%,扩增后的滴度为3×10⁹ pfu·ml^-1,容量约为2.4×10¹¹。插入片段长度均大于400 bp,平均长度约为790 bp。从文库中随机挑选32个阳性克隆进行3′端测序,并将测序结果通过NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) 数据库进行比较,发现有23个EST序列与已知序列有明显的同源性,而其余的与NCBI中的已知序列相似性较低（e值>10^-4）,可能是未知基因。其中序列SSL061、SSL179与脱水素序列有较高的序列一致性。同时合成引物,通过PCR扩增文库的方法,从中筛选获得存在于植物细胞膜上并在植物受盐胁迫时起重要作用的nhx基因,进一步验证了文库的质量。     

古墓中胡杨心材的挥发性化学成分

利用GC-MS联用技术分析了古墓中2000多年前胡杨(Populus euphratica)心材的挥发性化学成分,并应用色谱峰面积归一化法计算了各成分的相对含量。共分析确认了31种挥发性成分,主要为倍半萜类化合物和酯类化合物。     

NaCl胁迫下胡杨(Populus euphratica)和群众杨(P.popularis)抗氧化能力及耐盐性

在盐浓度逐渐提高的胁迫条件下,对抗盐的胡杨(Populus euphratica)和盐敏感的群众杨(P.popularis35~44)1年实生苗木叶片中Na 、Cl-水平、O2-.产生速率以及抗氧化酶:超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)的动态变化以及抗盐性进行了研究。结果表明,在盐浓度不断提高的胁迫条件下,群众杨叶片中Na 、Cl-浓度持续增加,盐胁迫18d时,群众杨叶中Na 、Cl-含量分别达到对照的17.8和14.6倍,此时O2-.产生速率也达到最高水平。而在盐胁迫期间,群众杨叶片SOD活性没有明显提高,CAT活性维持在对照水平以下,只有APX和GR活性在盐胁迫13~18d,即盐害症状出现前才有所上升,属于典型的盐害反应。胡杨与群众杨明显不同:在盐胁迫初期,胡杨叶片Na 、Cl-含量虽然没有明显的变化,但胡杨叶片中O2-.产生速率在盐胁7d时明显提高,SOD、APX、CAT活性也都先后相应上升,表明胡杨能响应盐胁迫并上调SOD、APX和CAT等保护酶类,降低盐诱导的膜脂过氧化,从而减少了电解质外渗,最终提高了树木的抗盐性。     

Understanding Saline and Osmotic Tolerance of Populus euphratica Suspended Cells

Tolerance of Populus euphratica suspended cells to ionic and osmotic stresses implemented respectively by NaCl and PEG (6000) was characterized by monitoring cell growth, morphological features, ion compartmentation and polypeptide patterns. The cells grew and proliferated when submitted to stresses of 137 mM NaCl or 250 g l⁻¹ PEG, and survived at 308 mM of NaCl, showing tolerance to saline and particularly osmotic stress. They were resistant to plasmolysis and had dense cytoplasms, large nuclei and nucleoli, and evident cytoplasmic strands under high saline and osmotic stress. The sequestration of Cl⁻ into the vacuoles was observed in the cells stressed with 137 and 223 mM NaCl. The cellular protein profile was modified by high salt and osmotic stress and showed 28 kDa polypeptides up-regulated by both NaCl and PEG, and 66 and 25 kDa polypeptides up-regulated only by high NaCl stress. The salt tolerance of P. euphratica cells might be related to their capacity of adapting to higher osmotic stress by maintaining cell integrity, sequestrating Cl⁻ into vacuoles and modulating polypeptides that reflect cellular metabolic adaptations.     

Characterization of photosynthesis of Populus euphratica grown in the arid region

Net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i), transpiration rate (E), water use efficiency (WUE), and stomatal limitation (L_s) of Populus euphratica grown at different groundwater depths in the arid region were measured. g _s of the trees with groundwater depth at 4.74 m (D₄) and 5.82 m (D₅) were lower and a little higher than that at 3.82 m (D₃), respectively. Compared with C _i and L_s of the D₃ trees, C _i decreased and L_s increased at 4.74 m, however, Ci increased and L_s decreased at D₅. Hence photosynthetic reduction of P. euphratica was attributed to either stomatal closure or non-stomatal factors depending on the groundwater depths in the plant locations. P _N of the D₃ trees was significantly higher than those at D₄ or D₅. The trees of D₄ and D₅ did not show a significant difference in their P _N, indicating that there are mechanisms of P. euphratica tolerance to mild and moderate drought stress.     

胡杨和灰叶胡杨的维吾尔族植物文化研究——以新疆尉犁县为例

研究维吾尔人利用植物的传统知识和经验,在社会经济发展和资源保护等方面具有潜在的应用价值。胡杨（Populus euphratica Oliv.）和灰叶胡杨（P.pruinosa Schrenk）是新疆沙漠生态系统的主要植物类群,研究采用关键人物访谈法,对胡杨和灰叶胡杨在新疆尉犁县维吾尔族民间的植物文化进行了研究。结果表明：胡杨和灰叶胡杨的胡杨碱白色结晶体在治疗胃胀、咽喉肿痛、胃溃疡、十二指肠溃疡及消化不良等方面有作用;胡杨碱黑色结晶体用于治疗腰疼、腿疼,有消肿及止痛等疗效;胡杨碱加工后作洗发膏和洗衣粉使用;胡杨水不仅治疗神经衰弱,有延缓衰老、降低高血压及高血脂的功效,还能降低心脏病发病率;胡杨和灰叶胡杨枝叶具有治疗家畜胃胀和肌胃腐烂病的作用。当地罗布人利用胡杨树来建设沙漠生态园及控制土壤沙漠化。研究初步揭示了两种胡杨植物与维吾尔人的植物文化体系,维吾尔族植物传统知识的研究,将对我国民族植物学的发展及多样性产生影响。     

盐胁迫下胡杨愈伤组织生理生化特性

目的：探讨胡杨愈伤组织的耐盐性与生理生化指标的关系。方法：不同浓度NaCl胁迫下,对胡杨愈伤组织的丙二醛（MDA）含量、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性以及酯酶同工酶、过氧化物酶同工酶、超氧化物歧化酶同工酶酶谱进行研究。结果：随着盐浓度的增加,丙二醛（MDA）含量逐渐升高;从三种保护酶活性来看,过氧化物酶（POD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性均呈先上升后下降的趋势,在70mmol/L NaCl胁迫下达到最高值,POD、CAT酶活分别为2748u/g．min和152u/g．min,分别比对照高104％和72％;超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性则呈先降低后稍上升的趋势,总体均比对照低。过氧化物酶同工酶的第2、3条酶带在70mmol/L NaCl胁迫下颜色最深,且酶带较宽;超氧化物歧化酶同工酶的第1条酶带仅在未经盐胁迫时存在,说明该酶带所代表的酶对盐很敏感;第4条酶带随盐胁迫浓度加大先消失后出现,可能是愈伤组织逐渐适应盐胁迫的结果。结论：经盐胁迫的胡杨愈伤组织中,POD和CAT酶主要起保护作用;结合同浓度盐胁迫下愈伤组织的形态观察,总体上看,胡杨愈伤组织能较好地耐受70mmol/L NaCl。     

Development and characterization of microsatellite markers in Populus euphratica (Populaceae)

In this study, we developed 12 microsatellite loci for Populus euphratica and checked their variability in 27 individuals. The number of alleles for 12 loci ranged from five to nine, the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.32 to 0.48 and from 0.53 to 0.67. Frequencies of null alleles of all loci are not significantly greater than zero. None of the loci showed significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No significant linkage disequilibrium was observed between pairs of studied loci. These markers are useful in studies of population genetic structure of P. euphratica.